McLeish: We can still do it

Scotland manager Alex McLeish issued a rallying call to the nation after a 2-0 defeat to Georgia took their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign to the last game against Italy.

Georgia debutant Levan Mchedlidze headed the home side in to the lead after 16 minutes and David Siradze drilled home their second after 65 minutes to stifle any prospect of a comeback.

McLeish tried to remain optimistic, saying: "We are disappointed but we are still in the picture and we go into the last game with a wonderful chance - and we know we can do it."

He added: "The whole nation should be behind the team. Everyone should be proud of what this set-up has achieved through Walter Smith before me and, of course, the players.

"They've bounced back before. We know we are playing the world champions and we've said all along that Italy and France are the favourites. But the Italians have to come to Glasgow and we have to win the match."

McLeish, like most of the Scotland camp and all of the Tartan army inside the Boris Paichadze national stadium, believes referee Knut Kirkher denied the visitors a clear penalty when James McFadden went tumbling inside the Georgia box.

He said: "We finished the first half strongly. I felt we should have had a penalty.

"If we had got that and scored that would have changed the complexion of the game I've been told by the BBC that it was a stonewall penalty

"But Georgia didn't surprise me, I knew they had some good skills. I don't take anything away from Georgia, they played a good game."